The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-02-23
CAUSE OF THE DELAY
In the Payment Of Estimates Allowed by the
Commissioners Of the New Hospitals.
a Plain Agreement Between the Board and
Men whc Did the WOrk-The
Journals FalsehOOds.

The Journal says that "estimate-warrants'
given 10 the contractors for the construction
of the new Hospitals for the Insane have
been afiOat, "hawked about the streets and
IN the banks. sold at discount by the men
who had done the work for the State" and
in the most sensational manner the Repub-
liean organ is attempting to show that the
State, through its agents, has been guilty of
dishonorable dealing; that contractors have
been and are now deprived of money long
past due, and that the Democratic party is
to blame for the condition of things.
As matter of fact, the Commissioners
vouchers, or "estimate-warrants," as the
Journal calls them, were accepted by the
contractors with the distinct understanding
that payment was to be deferred for some
months; in fact, il was at the suggestion and
request OF the contractors, who did not want
the work to stop, that this arrangement was
entered INTO, and if any hardship has re-
suited from it the contractors themselves
are responsible. 1t is stated on
excellent authority that the vouchers in
question, with possibly two or three excep-
tions, axe in the hands of the original hold
ers, and they have not been "hawked about
the streets and in banks" or "sold at dis
count" as the Journal alleges. The Board
of Commissioners is composed equally of
Republicans and Democrats. The matter of
issuing OF the estimate warrants" in order
TO continue the construction of the new
planned IN Governor Gray's message to the
GsneSsf Assembly. He said:
of the allowances made to the contractors there
has been paid S747 2jj 7S leaving balance of the
appropriations for said hospitals unexpended OF
cause the receipts to the general fund were not
sufficient 10 pay allowances against the same and
meet the large expenditures for the maintenance
uons IN the contracts for the construction of
the hosp tsls it was provided that the Board of
oh
at any time, and the Commissioners were unwill-
ing 70 proceed with the construction and ap-
payable ct once in the then condition OF the
Treasury; and the wisdom of their judg-
at the close OF the last fiscal year there
was only SSg, ,3g0l2 in the general fund. The
contractors desired to continue their work, and
proved and allowed for payment on future dates,
rather than discharge their organized force OF
employees, and In pursuance OF such request aud
day OF Novem Der, 1885, 10 the amount of $685.
i57.6l. But was provided in the order of allow
anees Oi said sum that vouchers for 500 5000
should not be presented to the Auditor of State
for warrants until January l. 1857, and that vouch
February 20, 1857, on which dates, il was under
stood by he Board OF Commissioners, sufficient
funds would DC in the treasury to pay such allow
arces or the present General Assembly would
make provision for their payment.
There became due the contractors yester-
day on estimates approved by the Commits
sioDers the sam of $50, 900, bot as the gene
raj fund CT the treasury is almost exhausted
/, ioD account Of the delay of the Committee
on Ways and.Eeans in the Rouse reporting
the loan bill the Auditor hesitated to draw
his warrants for the amount. By instruc-
ton from the Governor he had forwarded
s. 0 500 during the day to New York to pay
tie interest on-Gtate bonds (dEe March y
and this left only about S25,O0e (estimated)
in the fund.
Auditor Carr sought tie advise of Attor-
ney-General Kitchener as to his duty under
the circumstances. The Attorney replied by
simply citing the statues bearing upon the
question. He showed that the Auditors
duty was plain, the law being Imperative
so far as the drawing of warrants for the
amount of the estimates to contractors was
concerned. Bat in answer to the further
query as to what sho1ld be done if the gen.
eral 1ond be exhausted, the attorney told
him that, in that case ke should certainly
not d1aw any warrants; that the Law clearly
prohibited such action, and that violation
thereof would render hiEa criminally liable.
"Win you issue warrants for the
smountP reporter aE.xed Deputy Au-
ditor Coons.
Il can'tsay yet, he replied, ''for haven't
had time to make footings and ascertain the
exact condition of the general fund. II
there is money enough on hand the contrast
ors will, OF course, be paid at once"